Mute for musical instruments



Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUTE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Theodore J. Hermes, Stonington, Conn.

Application November 21, 1945, Serial No. 629,988

2 Claims.

This invention relates t-o mutes for musical instruments such as horns, etc., and particularly to a mute the tone-muting eiect of which may be widely varied by the musician while the instrument is being played.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mute insertable within the bell of a musical instrument of the horn type, there being a valve member at the outer end of the mute which may be manually operated to control the amount of sound-diminishing effect of the mute during playing as required by the score.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conical member retained in the bell of a horn in a conventional manner and which in its normal position -will effect maximum muting of the sounds given out by the instrument being played, but while playing of the instrument the amount of muting may be widely varied by the musician and more or less of the sound allowed to issue.

Another Iobject 'of the invention is to enable tone effects to be modulated as to volume during the playing of single notes or passages by operation by the player of a single finger key.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may include the features lof construction and operation set forth in the following speciiication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming apart of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a mute for Aa trumpet but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be -construed as deilning or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose. 1

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an outside view of a complete mute for a trumpet made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 partially broken away and showing a modified form of the invention.

In the *above-mentioned drawings there have been shown but two embodiments of the invention which are now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, a conical member having one or more resilient members on its surface fitting the bell of a horn or other instrument and frictionally retaining the mute in position within the bell; second, a valve member at the large end of the cone movable directly toward and from the cone; third, guiding means for the valve member within the mute during its movement from open to closed position; and fourth, operating means extending laterally from the cone and terminating in Ia linger key the depressing of which against the pressure of a light spring varies the volume `of sound emitted by the horn.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing, there i's shown a hollow conical member I0 that may be made of metal, wood, plastic or other material having strips or an annular portion of cork I2 or Iother resilient material on the outer surface of the cone. The position of this resilient material I2 is such that it may engage the inner surface of the bell II of the horn and frictionally retain the mute in position therein. It will be understood that this material I2 and its position will be varied with the different types of horns with which the mute is to be used.

At the outer or larger end of the conical member I0 is a valve member I4 adapted to completely close the open end of the cone IU, Preferably and as sh'own in the figures, the conical member ID is formed with a bevelled surface I6 forming a seat against which the bevelled periphery of the valve member I4 may t.

To support the valve member I4 and guide it during its movement from closed to its maximum open position, the following means are provided. Within the concalmember IU are disposed transverse posts I8 retained in position by suitable fastenings I9 and having transverse openings in alinement with the axis of the cone I0. Attached to the valve member I4 and extending through these holes in the posts I8 is a guide rod 20, movement axially of which serves to open and close the valve member I4.

Operating means for the valve member I4 comprise a hand or finger depressed key 22 slidably mounted in a tubular projection 24 on one side of the conical member I0. A coiled spring 26 within the projection 24 normally holds the iinger key 22 in its outer position which corresponds to that in which the valve member I4 is in its closed or muting position. At the inner end of the finger key 22 is a pivotal joint 28 for a short connecting rod 30 having a pivotal connection to a cross-head 32 forming a part of or fastened t0 the guide rod 20. By depressing the nger key 22, therefore, the guide rod 20 is moved to the left as seen in the gures and the valve member I4 is moved toward its open or full tone position. With the finger key 22 fully depressed, the valve member I4 is moved to a position to very materially reduce the muting eiect of the conical member Il). With pressure released from the nger key 2E, the valve member I4 is returned to its closed or maximum mutingposition. By depressing the finger key 22 to intermediate positions, the muting effect may be quickly varied over a Wide range, as during the playing of a single note.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that a modi-- ned form of operating means is provided. The finger key 22 at its inner end is provided` With a freely rotating roller 36. In engagementiwith this roller 36 is a cone 38 on the guide rod 2U for the valve member I4. A spring 40 is disposed between one of the posts I8 for supporting the guide rod 26 and the face. of the large end of the cone. v The small end of the cone 38 clears the opposite post Itv so that the valve member is can seatv rmly against the outer end of the conical member I0. 'Ior secure` the cone 63 in fixed axial-.position on the guide rodZi), a cross pin. (52 or otherA suitable fastening may be used.

I claim:

l. A- mute for musical instruments comprising ay generallyeonicalmemberadapted to t Within the bell of a musical instrument, a disk-like valve member fitting Within the outer end of said conical member, resilient means normally holding said valve ina position to close the outer end of said conical member, means within said conical member for supporting said valve for movement into. and: o ut of closedv position and manualfmeans to openland close said valve comprising a nnger key movable in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the valve, supporting means for said finger key extending laterally from the side of said conical member, and means connecting said nger key and valve supporting means, whereby depressing said key Will open said valve.r f 'A 2. A mute for musical instruments comprising a generally conical member adapted to fit Within the bell of a musical instrument, a disk-like valve member fitting Within the outer end of said conical member, resilient means normally holding said valve in a position to close the outer end of said conical member, means. within said conical member for supporting said valve for movement into and out of closed position, and manual means tov open and close said Valve, comprising a nnger key movable in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the valve, supporting means for said finger key extending laterally from the side of said conical member. at anvintermediate point of the conical member and be.- yond the bell of said instrument, and means con.- necting said finger key and valve supporting means whereby depressing said key Will open said valve.

l THEODORE J. HERMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record; iii-the 

